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Partial Knee Replacement Surgery: A Treatment Option for Osteoarthritis with Minimal Incision and Quick Recovery

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition, often seen in older adults, leading to knee pain and difficulty walking. However, it doesn’t solely affect the elderly; working-age individuals and middle-aged adults can also develop knee osteoarthritis.


Surgical intervention is often the primary treatment for advanced knee osteoarthritis. Thanks to advancements in medical technology, a minimally invasive technique known as partial knee replacement surgery (Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty or UKA) has been developed. This procedure uses a smaller incision, resulting in faster recovery and serving as an alternative to traditional full knee replacement surgery.


What is Partial Knee Replacement Surgery (UKA)?

Partial knee replacement surgery, or Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA), involves replacing only the damaged portion of the knee joint with a metal implant while preserving the healthy parts of the joint. In many cases of knee osteoarthritis, the damage primarily affects the inner side of the knee joint (medial compartment). In the early stages of the disease, this targeted approach allows surgeons to retain the unaffected parts of the joint.


In the past, total knee replacement surgery was the standard treatment, which required removing ligaments and cartilage that were still intact. This often resulted in a longer adjustment period for patients to regain knee function for natural activities like sitting cross-legged or kneeling. UKA helps address these challenges, providing a more natural-feeling recovery.


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Partial Knee Replacement Surgery (UKA) Packages
Price Starting from : 200,000 THB

Advantages of Partial Knee Replacement Surgery


  • Preserves healthy ligaments and cartilage.
  • Effectively relieves symptoms of osteoarthritis, such as knee pain, joint stiffness, and instability.
  • Enables patients to bend and use their knees naturally.
  • Small incision with minimal scarring.
  • Reduced blood loss during surgery.
  • Lower risk of infection.
  • Faster recovery, with hospital stays as short as 1-2 days.
  • Allows for future total knee replacement if further degeneration occurs.

Who Is a Candidate for Partial Knee Replacement Surgery?

Doctors carefully evaluate each patient to determine suitability for UKA. Common criteria include:


  • Osteoarthritis localized to one side of the knee.
  • Mild to moderate disease progression with minimal bone damage.
  • Healthy cartilage in the unaffected knee compartments and a stable kneecap.
  • Good range of motion, allowing adequate knee bending and extension.
  • Minimal knee deformity or bowing.
  • Suitable for patients of any age.

Limitations of Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

While UKA is a promising option, it has some limitations:


  • Requires careful patient selection by an experienced specialist.
  • Surgery must be performed by a highly skilled and trained orthopedic surgeon.
  • Unsuitable for patients with excessive weight.
  • Unsuitable for those with severe knee deformities or advanced osteoarthritis.
  • Unsuitable for patients with certain bone diseases like osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or inflammatory joint conditions.
  • Not recommended for individuals engaged in high-impact sports, as these activities may accelerate joint wear.

Longevity of a Partial Knee Replacement

Research indicates that partial knee replacements are safe and can last for 10-20 years. A key advantage of this technique is its ability to maintain near-natural knee functionality, including full bending and extension, as well as performing daily activities like kneeling or squatting. Additionally, if osteoarthritis progresses, a total knee replacement remains an option in the future.


Conclusion

Partial knee replacement surgery (UKA) provides a minimally invasive solution for managing knee osteoarthritis. By preserving healthy ligaments and cartilage, this procedure promotes faster recovery and enables natural knee functionality. However, the suitability of this procedure must be assessed by an experienced specialist to ensure the best outcomes and patient safety.

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Fear of the Sun? It Could Be Putting You at Risk for “Osteoporosis”

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Why Are Young, Active People Still at Risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Recently, we’ve often heard of athletes—seemingly healthy and young—suddenly passing away, raising concerns about the true cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in athletes and young adults. Is there a connection with exercise? And how can we handle such situations to prevent unforeseen tragedies for ourselves and our loved ones? The Real Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Dr. Phonpitchaya Boondee, a cardiologist at the Praram 9 Cardiovascular Institute, explains that the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest tends to increase with age. Among younger people, it occurs at a rate of 1:100,000, which rises to 50:100,000 in middle-aged adults and up to 200:100,000 in those over 80 years old. Additionally, men are more at risk of coronary artery disease than women. In young individuals with no underlying conditions, the primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest are usually electrical disturbances of the heart and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. These are often genetic heart conditions that may present no prior symptoms, leaving individuals unaware they have heart disease.

Ovarian Cysts: A Hidden Threat Every Woman Should Know

These days, who would have thought that “ovarian cysts” would become a silent danger women need to be aware of? What’s even more concerning is that ovarian cysts often present no clear warning signs. Many women may be unaware that they have an ovarian cyst until they experience severe symptoms such as intense menstrual cramps, irregular periods, abdominal bloating, noticeable lumps in the pelvic area, or severe pain during intercourse. If left untreated, this condition can potentially be life-threatening. Unveiling the Secrets of Ovarian Cysts with a Specialist Professor Emeritus Dr. Sangchai Preutthipan, a specialist in reproductive medicine and laparoscopic surgery from Praram 9 Hospital, explains that the “ovaries” are small, thumb-sized organs responsible for producing eggs each month. With each ovulation, a fluid-filled sac forms around the egg. Sometimes, these sacs don’t dissolve as they should, leading to cyst formation. There are several types of ovarian cysts, including those caused by ovarian dysfunction, tumor-related cysts, endometriosis cysts (also known as chocolate cysts), cysts resembling other body tissues, and even cancerous cysts. Dr. Sangchai further notes that women of reproductive age up until menopause are at risk for ovarian cysts. Around 30-35% of women develop cysts due to ovarian dysfunction, while 20% develop tumor-related or chocolate cysts. Approximately 15% may have cysts that resemble other tissue types, and 1-5% are diagnosed with cancerous cysts. Each type of cyst carries different health risks.

Kidney Transplant Surgery Procedure, Recovery, and Complications to Monitor

Kidney transplantation is a surgical procedure that involves transplanting a kidney from a living donor or a donor who is brain-dead into a patient with chronic kidney failure, without removing the patient’s existing kidneys. The new kidney takes over the function of the damaged kidneys. The success rate of kidney transplantation is relatively high, and after the procedure, patients can experience a significant improvement in their quality of life. Therefore, kidney transplantation is considered the best treatment for chronic kidney failure. However, it is a major surgery with complex procedures. Before the operation, the donor kidney must be carefully matched to the recipient with chronic kidney failure, ensuring compatibility of blood and tissue between the donor and recipient to prevent rejection. Once a suitable kidney is found, the surgeon will perform the transplant on the patient. During and after the surgery, patients may face the risk of serious complications, so they must be closely monitored by a medical team. After the surgery, patients need to recover in the hospital to ensure that the new kidney is functioning properly and effectively.

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How Long Can A Kidney Transplant Recipient Live After Surgery?

The kidneys are vital organs in the body, making kidney disease a significant issue that affects both the patient’s quality of life and the lives of those who care for them. Today, there has been an increase in kidney disease cases compared to the past, with a growing number of patients reaching end-stage chronic kidney failure and requiring urgent treatment. Kidney transplantation is considered the best treatment option for restoring the patient’s quality of life.

Thyroid Disease Symptoms! Which type of thyroid disease do these symptoms indicate?

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Cardiac Arrhythmia : A warning sign that may lead to heart failure

The heart is an essential organ that works tirelessly all the time. On average, the heart beats around 100,000 times a day. Nowadays, heart disease is becoming increasingly common and close to us. We often hear news of people we know, or those close to us, passing away due to heart disease, or instances of athletes collapsing during competitions caused by irregular heartbeats. Cardiac arrhythmia is considered a type of heart disease that is frequently mentioned today. An irregular heartbeat causes abnormal heart contractions. If severe and left untreated, it can lead to heart failure. Therefore, taking care of heart health is extremely important and should not be neglected.

Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery: A Great Option for Women

When it comes to women’s surgeries, besides the anxiety about the results, the pain from the surgery and the scars afterward are other significant concerns. Nowadays, medical advancements have provided women with treatment options that yield good results while leaving only small scars. The pain from the surgical wound is minimal, recovery is quick, and there are no severe complications. One such option is gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

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